Pakistan have chance to challenge for top Test ranking

[Sultanzz]

Pakistan have chance to challenge for top Test ranking

ISLAMABAD (October 08 2004): Pakistan can come close to challenging Australia as the best Test team in the world in the coming weeks.

That probability depends on Pakistan making a clean sweep of the upcoming two-Tests home series against Sri Lanka starting at Faisalabad on October 20, with India also thrashing the visiting Australians during the almost same period.

Pakistan are currently on third position with 107 points in the official Test table while India languish a step behind on fourth place with 104 points. Australia, with 129 points, have a huge 20 points difference right now with second-placed England.

Aussies, however, can see their rating fall from 129 to 119 if they lose all four Tests to India who can take their tally from the current 104 to 115 in that case.

A narrower winning margin would leave a bigger gap between the two sides but even if India only wins the series by a one Test margin (1-0 or 2-1) it will boost its rating to 111, still good enough for second place, depending on results of Pakistan-Sri Lanka series.

India have never been better than fourth in the official Test table.

India can threaten Pakistan for the third place if they draw the series with Australia.
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CURRENT TEST RATING
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Australia 129
England 109
Pakistan 107
India 104
Sri Lanka 103
South Africa 102
New Zealand 94
West Indies 75
Zimbabwe 51
Bangladesh 1
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Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2004